Hose-bridge.



N0. 693,l68. Patented Feb. II, [902.

- DE CALVUS SMITH.

- HOSE BRIDGE.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1901.) (No Model.) 7

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DE OALVUS SMITH, OF COLEBROOK, OHIO.

HOSE-BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 693,168, dated February 11, 1902.

A Application filed November 6, 1901.. Serial No. 81,297. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DE OALVUS SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oolebrook, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Hose-Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in hosebridges for use on railroads where it is desired to pass a hose across the track in case of fire or when otherwise necessary to do so; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa side view, and Fig. 2 a top plan view, of a hose-bridge con structed according to my invention. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view partly broken away and illustrating the hinge connections between the sections of the bridge. Fig. 4 is a Vertical cross-section of the bridge on about line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the bracing arch-bar, and Fig. 6 is a detail cross-section on about line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

In the construction shown the bridge is composed of the sections A and A, which are hinged together at B and are provided in their hinged ends with notches aand a, which jointly form the opening for the passage of.

the hose, such opening being formed between the sections A A at their meeting ends, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The upper sides of the sections A A are curved, and the hingejoint of the section is arranged at the crown of the bridge, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the sections A and A rounding up gradually to the hinge at the crown of the bridge, as shown. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the upper side of the bridge is formed to coincide with the rail-surface, as shown in Fig. 4, so the cars can pass along the bridge over the hose as desired.

To prevent any displacement of the bridge by the action of the weight upon the crown thereof, I provide an arch-bar 0, whose purpose is to support the bridge at its hinged portion, and which bar incidentally serves to lock the hinge-pintle in position, as shown in Fig. 4. The arch-bar fits alongside the sections A A, is curved generally to correspond with the curvature of the bridge, bears at its crown beneath an abutment D, formed on one of the bridge-sections at the crown of the bridge, and fits at its ends at O in seats provided near the ends of the bridge-sections. In the construction shown the abutment D is a laterally-projecting lug on the section A, and the seats for the ends of the arch-bar consist of overlapping portions 0 which prevent the lateral displacement of the ends of the bar, and projections at G which prevent the endwise movement of the arch-bar. It will be understood that these constructions cooperate with the arch-bar D; but I do not wish to be limited to the special means shown by which the arch-bar operates to brace the bridge in the position shown in Fig. 1 and prevents its breaking down at its hinge-joint.

As shown, the hinge at Bis eifected by means of the pintle b, fitting, as shown in Fig. 4, in openings formed in the knuckles of the sections A A and which may be removed endwise at one end only. Such end is overlapped by the arch-bar when applied as shown in Fig. 1, so such bar will operate to prevent the accidental displacement of the pintle when the device is adjusted for use. At the same time the pin can be readily removed when the bar is adjusted out of place and the sections A A be detached for convenience in ship ment and storage.

Arms E project laterally from the sections A A and are provided at their outer ends with supporting devices to rest upon the ground. These supporting devices are pref= erably adjustable vertically and are shown as screws F, threaded in the arms E and provided at their lower ends with broad feet f to rest upon the ground-surface. It will be noticed the screws F can be readily adjusted to properly bear upon the ground to steady the bridge firmly in position for use.

Lugs or projections G depend 'from the bridge-sections at their opposite sides and lie close to the opposite edges of the rail, thus operating to secure the bridge from lateral displacement. I also provide a lock for holding the bridge from endwise movement. This consists, preferably, of the lever H, pivoted at H, arranged at its lower end to bind against the rail at h, as best shown in Fig. 4, and provided on its upper arm with a straining device, shown as a screw threaded in the lever H and arranged to bear against the bridge and lock the lever H when the latter is set, as

shown in Fig. 4, to bind against the rail. The.

lever H is slotted at h for the pivot-bolt 11, so the saidlever can be raised, as shown in full lines, Fig. 6, driven into the ground alongside the rail, and then tightened by the screw 1.

- By the described construction it will be seen I provide a bridge which can be readily applied to the rails and secured thereto from lateral or longitudinal displacement, will be supported or steadied in position by the lateral arms and their adjustable supporting devices, will be braced by the arch-bar, and will efficiently serve the purpose for which it is intended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim'as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. The hose-bridge consisting of the sections rounded on their upper surfaces and hinged together at the crown of the bridge and provided between their meeting ends with an opening for the passage of the hose, said-sections being provided at their opposite edges with depending portions to lap alongside the rail and also with the laterally-projecting arm provided with the adjustable supporting devices for steadying the bridge in position, the lever pivoted between its ends to the bridge and having its lower arm arranged to bear against the side of the rail and its upper arm provided with a device for forcing it outwardly from the bridge the arch-bar, and devices on the bridge fcr'engagement by said,

bar whereby the bar will prevent the breaking down of the bridge at its hinge-joint substantially as set forth.

2. A hose-bridge composed of the hinged sections provided on their opposite sides with the laterally-projecting arms and having said arms provided with supporting devices restin g upon the ground substantially as set forth.

3. A hose-bridge composed of the two sections hinged together at theirmeeting ends at the crown of the bridge and an arch-bar applied to said sections and adapted to prevent the breaking down of the hinge-joint of the bridge substantially as set forth.

4. A hose-bridge composed of the sections .hinged together at their meeting endsat the crown of the bridge, and a supporting device applied to said bridge and extending past the hinge ofthe sections and adapted to prevent the breaking down thereof at its hinge-joint substantially as set forth.

5. A hose-bridge provided with a lever for binding against the rail said lever being pivoted to the bridge and movablelon gitudinall y acrossits pivot, and a straining device for operating said lever substantially as set forth.

6. A hose-bridge composed of two sections, rounded on its upper side, and havingthe sections hinged together at the crown of the bridge and provided in their meeting ends with notches combining to form an opening for the passage of the hose, substantially as set forth. 7

7. The combination of the bridge sections hinged together at their meeting ends and provided at such ends with an opening for the hose, a lateral projection adjacent to the hinge of the sections and adapted to overlie the archbar, the sections being provided near their ends with seats for the ends of the arch-bar, and the arch-bar fitted at its ends to said seats and between its ends beneath the projection adjacent to the hinge of the sections substan* tially as set forth.

8. A hose-bridge provided on one side with a lever pivoted between its ends and arranged at its lower end to bear alongside the rail and .a straining device operating between the upper end of the lever and the bridge whereby to press the lower end of the ley'er firmly against the rail substantially as set forth.

9. Thecombination of the bridge-sections, the hinge-pintle by which said sections are connected, and the arch-bar overlapping said pintle when the parts are applied for use substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with the bridge-sections hinged together at the crown of the bridge and provided with lateral arms and supporting devices to rest upon the ground, of the arch-bar for preventing said bridge from breaking down at its hinge-joint substantially as set forth.

DE CALVUS SMITH.

Witnesses:

MARY E; GEER, II. J. STONE. 

